Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, Deputy Director of TPI, CTA, addressed the gathering. Photo / Ngawang Tsepak / CTA

Dharamshala: The Tibet Policy Institute, a research center affiliated with the Central Tibetan Administration, hosted a panel discussion titled “Forced Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute: Causes and Impacts” this morning at 10 a.m. in the TPI Hall.

The event featured distinguished panellists, including Pema Tso, Member of the Tibetan Parliament and Chief Editor of Tibet Times; Dawa Tsering, Director of the Tibet Policy Institute, CTA; and Shede Dawa, Researcher at Tibet Watch and former student of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute.

TPI’s Deputy Director, Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen, moderated the discussion. He provided an overview of the subject matter and introduced the topic. He brought up ‘The Last Class,’ a story by Alphonse Daudet, exploring different aspects of French nationalism and identity. The protagonist was a young boy attending his last French class, drawing parallels to the situation of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute.

The panel discussion commenced with poignant opening remarks from each panellist, delving into the recent ‘Forced Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute (Jigme Gyaltsen Nationalities Vocational High School in Golog) in Tibet’ and its multifaceted implications within their respective domains of expertise.

Parliamentarian Pema Tso highlighted the challenges and restrictions Ragya Sherig Norling faced in its educational endeavours. She first received the news on the morning of 14 July 2024, at 5:35 a.m. via mobile, learning that the school had been closed two hours earlier and that all students were being sent home. Following this, Tibetans inside and outside Tibet started writing articles about the closure and sharing videos of students crying on the school grounds. This news spread across almost all social media platforms, raising questions among Tibetans about the reason behind the closure. She stated, “Between 1994 and 2021, more than 2,200 students graduated from this institution, and 253 were former staff members. As of 2021, this year in 2024, more than 120 students have graduated from the same institute.” She also provided a brief history of the founder of Jigme Ragya Sherig School, Gen Jigme Gyaltsen.

Shede Dawa, a former student of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute, shared his experiences and memories from his school days. He also discussed the history of the school’s founder, Gen Jigme Gyaltsen. He recalled the latter emphasising the importance of the Tibetan language for the Tibetan people, asserting that without their own language, they would fall behind in society. He remarked that Gen Jigme wasn’t someone of high social status or wealth who established the university but rather a humble monk from a nomadic region who made it possible through immense effort and dedication to the Tibetan language.

In his account of being a student at the institute, Shide Dawa shared that he initially had no interest in Tibetan. However, under the educational guidance of Gen Jigme Gyaltsen, he was eventually able to enroll in the institute for further studies. “Gen Jigme Gyaltsen consistently emphasised that preserving the Tibetan language and writing was crucial for the survival of the Tibetan people.” He further added that Gen Jigme used to inspire students by saying that just as a Chinese or English person must know their language first, so must Tibetans. His inspiring words and active participation in every co-curricular activity motivated the students to embrace their heritage and language.

Geshe Akuk Tseten, a member of the Tibetan Parliament and a special guest on the panel, highlighted the significance of the school for Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet. He explained that the Chinese government shut down the school because they saw it as a threat. He also mentioned that Jigme Gyaltsen, a student of the Panchen Lama, sold his mother’s jewellery to establish the school. Recognizing his noble intention, some monks assisted him without any compensation. He noted that Rejia Sherab Ling was not only a center for Tibetan language studies but also for logic and contemporary education.

Tenzin Lekshey, the spokesman and Additional Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, expressed strong opposition to the Chinese government’s policy of shutting down Tibetan schools and replacing them with boarding schools. He argued that these measures aim to undermine Tibetan culture, religion, and people. Tenzin Pema, Additional Secretary for Education at the Central Tibetan Administration; Kalsang Dolma, deputy secretary of the Tibetan Women’s League; Sonam Tsering, secretary of the Tibetan Youth League; and Lobsang Yangtso, director of the Tibet Affairs Office, also spoke on the matter, highlighting its seriousness.

TPI Director Dawa Tsering addressed the future prospects for Tibetan language education in light of the closure of Ragya Sherig Norling. He emphasised that to shape a positive future for Tibet, it is crucial to understand and address the current situation. “Presently, the Chinese government is actively closing monasteries and Tibetan schools. This is not the first instance of such actions; recent events include the mass relocation of Tibetans due to hydropower projects in Tibetan areas and the downstream regions outside Tibet. These measures are part of a broader strategy by Chinese authorities to eradicate the Tibetan language and culture systematically,” he added.

The panel discussion was also attended by Tibetan parliamentarians Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten, Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen and Geshe Ngaba Gangri, along with Additional Secretaries Tenzin Lekshey and Tenzin Pema, and representatives from various Tibetan NGOs and media outlets came together to engage in insightful discussions.

Future Prospects for Tibetan Language Education Following the Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling

Dawa Tsering, Director of TPI, CTA bring the discussion on ‘Future Prospects for Tibetan Language Education Following the Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling’

Tenzin Pema, Additional Secretary of Dept. of Education Shares her view on the given topic

A Glimpse of Panel Discussion in TPI Hall

Tibet Policy Institute Convenes Panel Discussion Titled ‘Forced Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institution: Causes and Impacts’

Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen shares his view

DIIR Additional Secretary Tenzin Lekshey discussed strategies for promoting the news to larger media outlets and raising awareness among International Media